Condenser for elastic-fluid turbines.



No. 873,041. PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907.

A.T.GRAY. 4 CONDENSER FOR ELASTIG FLUID TURBINBS.

APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 24,1903.

um g W t m e d nn. 3 X k w No. 878,041. PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907. A. T. GRAY.

CONDENSER FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES APPLICATION FILED DEO.24,1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Inventor: JQIeXandeP'PQr'a by W ' motive fluid UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER T. GRAY, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGXOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

No. s73,o41.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed December 24. 1903. Serial No. 186.447.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER T. GRAY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Condensers for Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has for its object to provide a turbine-condenser unit of the jet type which shall have a high efficiency, 00- cupy a relatively small space, and contain a minimum number of parts.

In carrying out the invention, a water-distributing means, such as a wheel, is mounted in the turbine casing adjacent to the last bucket wheel, so that the steam or other motive fluid discharged from the working passages b'etween'buckets will be caused to mix intimately with the jets or streams of water discharged by the said means. In addition to serving as apart of the condenser the water-discharging wheel,being carried by the turbine shaft, has a-fiy-wheel efiect, which is advantageous in machines having relatively light rotating parts. V

The primary or underlying feature of the invention is the employment of a means arranged to discharge water in such a manner that it will mix intimately with the exhaust as soon as it leaves the wheel.

As a secondary feature it consists in the use of a hollow disk-wheel revolving at a 'gh speed into which the cooling water flows, either under head or due to the pumplike action of the wheel. As the wheel revolves, it imparts to the water considerable pressure, which pressure maybe utilized in a variety of ways.-

The invention is applicable to various types of turbines, whether they have one or more Wheels per stage, and whether they act on the impact or reaction principle. The motive fluid'may flowin an axial or radial direction, or it mav flow in a combined'axial and radial direction, providing it can be discharged against or into the many streams of water discharged from the wheel. The

method of'suppllying water to the .wheel will e governed c 'efiy by the character of the supply. Wherethe difference in head between the turbine and source of sup lyis relatively small the cooling water W11 flow into.

the dischargingdevice within the turbine casing due to the vacuum therein, but where determined by the detachable pieces considerable difference in head exists it is necessary to include a pump between the source of supply and the points of discharge, and preferably this pump is situated within the casing. As the bucket wheel rotates itimparts a whirling motion to the exhaust motive fluid, and a similar motion is imparted to the small streams of cooling water, which also have a path at substantially right angles to that of the exhaust, thereby causing an intimate mixing of the steam and water, resulting in a hi h vacuum. As the wheel rotates under relatively high speed, the cooling water is discharged under considerable pressure, and by properly designing and spacing the discharge, orifices it issues in a finely divided state.

Between the bucket and water wheels, which are preferably separate structures for convenience in manufacturing, is a deflector or directing plate which serves to prevent steam and water from being caughtbetween them and also serves to direct the steam in the most efficient way against the water-discharging wheel. In order to prevent the cooling water from falling on the turbine wheel, and thereby reducing its temperature, it is preferable to providea division or separating'plate that is carried by the casing or by the bucket wheel itself. I prefer the former arrangement, since the heat from the wheel will not be directly imparted thereto, and there will be a consequent saving in energy.

The water-discharging wheel maybe constructed in a variety of ways, depending upon the conditions of 0 eration. It is preferably composed of dis 's arranged side by side on the'turbine shaft, with a chamber formed between them so arranged as to insure an even flow. It is advantageous to place ribs, preferably curved, between the disks to insure good distribution of the cooling water and also to strengthen the wheel. The rim of the wheel can with advantage be flared in order to secure good distribution of the cooling water, and the amount of flare is quantity of cooling atei to be discharged. The rim of thefwhee may be made ina variety of ways, for example, of of metal or a solid piece; In theformer'case, the pieces may be separated one from the other to form discharge spaces in the latter case the rim is filled with holes of suitable shape, In order to lessen found advantageous are covered by the nozzles,

- mg the character of the discharge orifices;

illustrate one em odiment of my invention,

the work of driving and to give a more effective spray, the holes in the rim, or the spaces between the built-up parts of the rim, may each extend obliquely with respect to a radius. In constructions where the rim has relatively large discharge orifices, it will be to place a screen near said orifices to cause the water to be formed into a dense spray.

The invention is applicable both to hori' zontal and vertical machines. 'When used in connection with the latter, cooling water may be received through a passage formed inthe casing of the step-bearing, the upper end of which is enlarged to form a water-. containing chamber. i

In most turbines, especially those of large size, where the low-pressure nozzles or discharging device's extend entirely around the last wheel or substantially so, it is satisfactory to have the discharge of the cooling water take place at all points around the bucket. On the other hand, where the nozzles extend only partly around the wheel, it will be found advantageous to'check the flow of water by means of a hood except for that and-in this manner decrease the amount of water used.

In the accom nying drawings, which Figure 1 is a cross-section of an elastic-fluid turbine; Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal sec tion of a jet turbine showing the relation of the. bucket and water-discharging wheels; Fig. 3 is a artial longitudinal section show ing a mo ified form of water discharg'mg wheel Figxl is a partial vertical section showing the invention applied to a vertical tur bine; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of a part of the watepdischarging wheel, show- Fig. 6 is a similar view showin orifices of a modified character; Figs.7 an 8 are detail views of a modified form of wheel construction; Fig. 9 is a further'modification wherein the discharge orifices occupy parallel fplanes at right angles to the axis of the sha t, and Fig. 10 is a further modification wherein a cast grid forms a 'artof the wheel rim, with a screen for disc arging the water'in the form of a spray. 1

1 represents the shaft of the turbine; and mounted therein are one or more wheels 2 having peripheral buckets 3 of anysuitable character. Surrounding'the wheel is a cas-v ing 1. Where two or more rows of wheelof intermediate etween each pair of wheel buckets, and these intermediates are supported by the casing 4 in the usual manner. Located at the exhaust end of the turbine and inclosed by the wheel cas' ing, is a wheel 6 that may act as a pump and discharges cooling water for 'the urpose o l condensing thesteam. The whee ,as shown uckets 5 is provided in Fig. 2 consists of a single casting with a plurality ofchambers 7 formed therein and separated one from the other by curved ribs 8. These ribsv extend between; the two disklike portions or walls of the wheel and also extend for a short distance parallel'to the hub 9. to the hub they may be slightly spiraled' in order to assist in raising the water.

- to the rapid rotation of this wheel, it acts as a when the water supplied therefor P p, ut is not under head it will be necessary to prime the Wheel at starting. The inclination of the hubis clearly shown in chamber 10 which is formed in a castingfill. T 's ribs Saround the Fig. 1. These ribs enter the water-receiving that is bolted to the wheel casing. chamber is provided with two packin s 12 for preventing the water from leaking own theoutside of the casing-and also from leaking into the wheel casing. Theperiphery of the wheel'is flared, and carried thereby is a rim 13 containing a plurality ofperforations.

through which the cooling water is dischar ed. Between the water discharging whee and the bucket wheel is a cylindrical deflector or directing late. 14. This plate is preferably boltedjto t e water wheel, and extends under a flange on the bucket wheel. 15 represents a division or separating plate which is' attached to the tends in close proximit This plate is provided edge which forms a of this late is to'prevent the cooling water to the bucket wheel.

from fa '11g on the bucket wheel and thereby lowering its temperature.

- Referring to Fig. 3, a slight modification of the water wheel posed of separate disks 17 and 18Wh1ch are olted' together in any suitable manner.

This construction is, more suitable for high speeds. It is 'rovided with the: same arrangement of r1bs8 as described in connection with the previous figures. Being intended for high-speed work, it can be em,

At the point where they extend-parallel Owing wheelcasing and ex 1 with a curved inner trough 16. :The object is shown, it "beingcomployed to lift the cooling water from a tank or other source of supply. i Referring to Figf ifthe invention is shown applied. to a vertical type of turbine.'

or simplicity of illustration the bucket wlieel have i-been omitted.

and intermediates,,

of the machine which represents the sh aft occupies-a vertical osition, and keyed therewheel-of. a con-- to' is" a water-disc argin struction'. similar to that s own in Figs. 1 and 2, the'chambers 7 in form'to give an even flow and e utilydl'stl'ibutionof the cooling water at al points "of the periphe through a'p urality of spaces or orifices 20 formed between plates 21 that'are. situated the wheel beinglof a The discharge takes place one below the other, and are held in place by suitable means. The shaft is supported byja step bearing 22 whiphisadjusted from the a radius.

i Fig. 9 shows a construction wherein a pluoutside of the casing by an adjusting bolt 23. Lubricant is admitted to the bearing blocks by the pipe 24. Situated above the I ste bearing is a guide bearing. I can witha vantage use water as a lubricant for the step and guide bearings, in which case the trek the shaft will act as a passage for this purpose,

The water flowing into the step bearing is under high pressure, in some instances as high as one thousand pounds per-square inch, which pressure is gradually decreased as it passes through the bearings. It is im racticable to su ply cooling water; direct y to the wheel un er the high pressure mentioned above, and ther'efore the suppl pipe 28 is connected in a manner to give ow-pressure service. It will be advantageous to use the same source of supply for both the bearing and the water discharging Wheel. The step and guide bearings are carried by a casting 25 which is detachably secured to the under side of the wheel casing 4. In this casting is formed a passage 26 that communicates with a chamber 27 at the upper end. This chamber isin constant communication with the wheel chamber or chambers 7. Cooling water is supplied to said chamber by the pipe 28. may use water under pressure for su lying this chamber, or the wheel may fie epended upon.to raise the water. from a it would be, necessary to prime the wheel on starting. The'cooling water and condensed steam'are collected in are discharged by the pipe 29.

Referring to 'Fig. 5; a. section of the water wheel is shown wherein the rim or flange is provided with discharge orifices 30 which flare outwardly. The object of this arrangement is to insure the formation of spray, as distinguished from small streams of water.

In Fig. 6 the water-discharging orifices 31 are boredstraight or substantially so, and each hole is formed obliquely with-respect to In Figs. 7.and 8 is shown a type of wheel suitable for high-pressure work. 32 and 33 represent disks which are bolted or otherw se secured together, and which are preferably rovided with the ribs 8 previously referre to. The periphery of each disk is turned true, and mounted thereon is a plurality of bars 34 which are separated one from the other b small spaces through which the water is ischarged. These s aces are preferablylocated at an angle wit res ect to a radius. The bars are held in p ace by clam s 35 which are detachably secured to the disks.

-are to carry. I v In accordance with the PIOVISIODS of the tank or otherso'urce of'supply, in which case the wheel casing and rality of thin turned rings 36 are employed, with small spaces between them. struct-ion is also a desirableone for high pres sure work. The rings are held in place by bolts 37 which ass through both disks.

In Fig. 10 is s iown a construction which is suitable where large volumesofwater are to be employed,- The construction com rises a cast-metal grating 38 having relatively large openings formed therein, with a screen 39 placed between it and the periphery of the disks. The grating 'is held 1n place by clamps 40 having beveled faces which. en-

gage with the face of the grating. In this instance, as in those previously described, the size of the parts and the distribution of This con the metal therein depends upon the speed of 4 the rotation and also patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I'now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I I esire to have it understood that the appa-.

ratus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means. What I claim as new and desire to secure on the load which they by Letters Patent of the United States, is:' i

1. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a casing and bucket wheel, in combination with a means which discharges cooling water in a divided state across the body of vapor at the point where it issues from the wheel.

2. An elastic-fluid casing and bucket wheel, in combination with a means which surrounds the shaft and discharges cooling water in a divided state across the vapor body issuing from the wheel. 3. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a casing and bucket wheel, in combination with a water-discharging -wheel mounted on the same shaft with the bucket wheel for. discharging water in a finely divided state into the body of vapor discharged by the. wheel.

4. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a casing and bucket wheel, in combination with a-wheel which has a located adjacent to the exhaust side of the bucket wheel that discharge cooling water intothebody of vapor after it passes through the bucket wheel. 7

turbine comprising a plurality of orifices 5. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a.

casing and bucket wheel, in combination with a wheel which has-a plurality of dis charge orifices that discharge cooling water at substantially right anglesto the plane of movement of' wheell 6. A11 elastic-fluid turbine-comprising a casing and bucket wheel, in combinatlon with a wheel which has a plurality of orifices having axes that cross the path of the vaporandi hichdischarge cooling water in a d1- the vapor from the bucket vided state into the body of vapor after it passes through the bucket wheel to cause rapid condensation of the vapor, and means .for supplying water to the wheel at a point near t e hub.

7. An elastic-fluid turblne comprising a casing and bucket wheel, in combination with a wheel which increases the pressure of- -with a,-wheel having a water-containing chamber and a peripheral means .contalnmg' a plurality of discharge orifices which are common to and communicate with said chamber.

9. An elastic-fluid-turbine comprising a casing and bucket wheel, in combination with a wheel having a water-containing chamber and a perforated rim through which the cooling water is discharged into the body of vapor from the bucket wheel.

10. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a casing and bucket wheel, in combination with a means surroundin the wheel shaft, which is provided with o ri ces that discharge the cooling water. in the form of a spray.

11. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a casing and a bucket wheel, in combination with a means for discharging cooling water intothe motive fluid after it exhausts from the wheel, and a device for directing the exat the place where the motive fluid exhausts from the wheel, and a device for preventing the cooling Water from falling on the bucket wheel. 14. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a casing and a bucket wheel, in combination with a means for discharging cooling water at the place Where the motive fluid exhausts from the wheel, and a division plate or separator which is carried by the casingto prevent the cooling water discharged by said means from falling on the wheel.

15. An elastic-fluid turbine comprising a casing and bucket wheel, in combinatlon with a water-discharging means for condensing the exhaust vapor, a plate for causing the vapor to mingle. with the cooling water, and a division plate or separator to prevent the water from falling on the Wheel. 16. An elastic fluid turbine comprising a casing and bucket wheel, in combination with a wheel having chambers therein, a peripheral means carried by the Wheel and containing a plurality ofsmall orifices which communicate with the chambers and through which liquid from the chambers pass, and a suction chamber for the wheel.

17. An elastic-fluid comprisin a: casing, relatively moving buckets, and a earing for the wheel shaft, in combination with a condenser for condensing the vapor exhausted from the turbine which receives its cooling waterafter it passes through and lubricatesthe bearing.

18. An elastic-fluid turbine'comprising 'a casing, relatively moving buckets, and a. bearing for the wheel shaft, in combination with a condenser, and a conduit for supplying water to the bearing for lubricating purposes and cooling water to the condenser.

19. An elastic-fluid turbine comprisin a casing, relatively moving buckets, an bearing for the wheel shaft, in combination with a condenser, a conduit for supplying water to, the bearing for lubricating purposes, and a passage conveying water from the stepbe'aring'to the condenser.

20. An elastic-fluid turbine comprisin a casing, relatively moving buckets, an a bearing for the Wheel shaft, in combination with a condenser, a conduit for supplying water under high pressure to the step bear' ing, a passage which conveys the exhaust from the bearing to the condenser, and a concluit which discharges water under a rela-Q.

ALEXANDER T. GRAY.

Witnesses: I

BENJAMIN B.'HI ILL, HELEN ORroRD. 

